REI cheap webbing

[BullFrog]

Hello all,

I have yet to spend the night in a hammock, but I did pick one up recently. After perusing this forum a bit, I decided I wanted a couple of carabiners and some webbing. So I went to my friendly neighborhood REI and picked up 2 biners and some very cheap webbing: http://www.rei.com/product/380043 I figured at 3 bucks a pop, if they didn't work I could use them elsewhere. I cut off the buckles and tied a bowline on both ends, then hung the hammock from them. They seemed to hold just fine, but it wasn't more than a few minutes. Is this a bruised bum waiting to happen?

Also, I don't understand the advantage of looping the webbing through a biner against the tree instead of running the webbing through its own loop; any light shed on my ignorance is appreciated.

[JCINMA]

The webbing may or may not hold. I think that it will hold just fine, but you should be concerned about stretch. A lot of webbing is made of nylon, which stretches a lot.

Using nylon webbing, I've gone to sleep at 10pm, standing on my tip-toes to get in the hammock, and woken up at midnight by the sound of my bum swishing across the grass. Thank goodness that was before my UQ days.

Also, I don't understand the advantage of looping the webbing through a biner against the tree instead of running the webbing through its own loop; any light shed on my ignorance is appreciated.

The only advantage to using the carabiners is convenience. It makes putting the webbing on the tree a snap (pun completely intended).

[ArcsandSparks]

After viewing the product it's unclear of what the rating is on it. To be on the safe side I would recommend buying some of the climbing rated stuff they sell by the foot. It is nylon so it will stretch a bit. I originally made some but used the webbing for the whole suspension system, it stretched a lot. However, if you are just making tree straps you will probably be fine. As for the carabiner set up, it's just quicker, less hassle to set up. I ditched mine once I had the realization....

[dant8ro]

Nylon may equal stretch, but I've seen accessory webbing rated as low as 50 lbs. Were I a cautious man I don't think I'd hang off something unrated like that. Webbing is pretty cheap, and many of the online vendors will do all the leg work for you of putting loops in etc for about $0.75 a foot. It will also have the advantage of being specifically chosen for hammocking which usually means low/no stretch and high break strength. I think arrowheads polyester is 1200 lbs. Good luck, and safe hammocking.

[cataraftgirl]

I started with REI climbing department webbing, but after experiencing the "butt on the ground" stretch thing, I switched to poly webbing.
KJ

[pgibson]

At that price it is almost certainly nylon. And on the cheap side for it which would point at lower strength ratings. Polyester is the best route for hammock suspensions. It is strong and relatively affordable. We run black at 0.50 per foot with loops on both ends or just one depending on the suspension you are looking to use.

[dant8ro]

There ya go, $0.50 a foot from one of our hammock forums cottage gurus.

[Law Dawg (ret)]

I'd suggest you go here http://arrowheadequipment.webs.com/ and spend a bit (really just a bit) more for some custom poly ones. I have a set and they are well made plus I trust them not to drop me on a rock.

[PuckerFactor]

Law Dawg lies! It's never "a bit"! It starts as "a bit" and then turns in to 100' of Amsteel, a hank of Dynaglide, a few bits here, a couple bobs there. It's maddening!

Sorry, guess I got carried away there... Yeah. What he said, go to AHE.

PF

[Law Dawg (ret)]

Law Dawg lies!

I prefer "creative exageration".

True that though, AHE gots some swag and it is hard to resist "just one more item" in the cart.